A Spring Family AffairFranklin D. Roosevelt Middle School Cleveland, Ohio Over sixty community organizations and political groups conducted workshops and/or manned information booths. More than 250 families attended. This fantastic turnout was for the Spring Family Affair, an event held for the first time at Franklin D. Roosevelt Middle School. The goals of this partnership practice were to celebrate families of the two communities that comprise the school, create awareness of supportive services available, and honor families for their contributions to their city. Students played a big role in the success of this event. More... Elizabeth Hunter, Parent Liaison (216) 541-0587 Type 6 | Middle Grades | Climate of Partnership |
Business partners Support After-School SportsJefferson Junior High School Naperville, Illinois Jefferson Junior High has a rather unique business partnership committee consisting of parents and teachers. The school started the committee about four years ago as a Type 6—Collaborating with the Community activity. The committee’s primary function is to establish and foster relationships with the business community to enhance students’ experiences at Jefferson. A secondary purpose is to encourage more parent involvement. One of the committee’s most successful activities involved business support for after-school basketball games. More... Kent Richardson, (630) 420-6363 Type 6 | High School | Climate of Partnership |
Chili Taste-OffCleveland Learning Center-Halle Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland Learning Center-Halle is an alternative school for overage students. Very few of the students that attend Halle reside in the neighborhood so the Action Team for Partnerships focused on building a sense of community. Drawing from the school improvement goal to establish more links between home and the community, the Action Team sponsored a ChiliTaste-Off. More... Sharon Spicer, Family Liaison (216) 961-2003 Type 2 | High School | Climate of Partnership |
Community Harvest FestivalWilliam Cullen Bryant School Cleveland, Ohio A dedicated team of parents, staff, community members, Parkworks representatives, and a local councilman installed a playground and learning garden at William Cullen Bryant. The school’s gardening program involved students in the safe use of tools, gardening techniques, plant life cycles, using the harvest, and sharing the harvest with others. Grants from the Ohio State Extension and MBNA provided plants, tools, and gardening books for the school library. The Core Team planned the Community Harvest Festival to celebrate a successful harvest. More... Laura Gump, Family Liaison (216) 351-6343 Type 3 | Elementary Grades | Climate of Partnership |
Diversity CelebrationEarly Childhood Center #17 Buffalo, New York The Diversity Celebration at Early Childhood Center #17 brought together students, families, and community and school members to celebrate the many cultures that make up our community. This was a direct link to one of the school goals, which is to cultivate a higher level of involvement among our students’ families as well as our community. Our school has found that our most successful endeavors in reaching that goal have been ones that highlight our students. Additionally, the celebration intended to help our students to develop and appreciate a sense of pride in their particular heritages, while at the same time celebrate being Americans. More... Cindy Glascott, Action Team Chair (716) 888-7020 Type 3 | Elementary Grades | Climate of Partnership |
Family ConnectionNaperville North High School Naperville, Illinois Family Connection is a volunteer group of Naperville North High School (NNHS) families working together with NNHS health and guidance staff to lend other Naperville North families a helping hand during difficult times. Family Connection provides a range of services to meet the diverse needs of the school community, including meals and clothing, transportation, personal and school supplies, mentoring families, and financial aid. The program also links families in need to appropriate community resources. Family Connection hopes the assistance they provide families will benefit student success, particularly for academically at risk students. More... Loretta Berndt, Chair of Family Connection (630) 961-9409 Type 3 | High School | Climate of Partnership |
Family Fun FestivalFamiliesFORWARD Cincinnati, Ohio In 1997, parents at Hays Elementary School requested that Families FORWARD lead the development of a family carnival. The elementary school is located in the middle of a housing project and many of the parents felt that the community did not have enough positive events for families and children. The parents believed the school would be an excellent place to host a family carnival. At about the same time, a professional event planner contacted Families FORWARD hoping to volunteer for the agency. A committee of parents, school staff, community representatives, agency staff, and volunteers met with the event planner and began planning the first Families FORWARD Family Fun Festival. Specifically, the Family Fun Festival addressed three goals: to educate family members about services in the school and community; to encourage positive parent/ child interaction; and to increase parent involvement and interest in school activities. The event was so successful that the agency has continued this practice for six years. More... Julie Theodore, Program Director (513) 721-7044 julietheodore@familiesforward.net Type 3 | Organization | Climate of Partnership |
Family Night Out At RyansBanks Elementary School Baton Rouge, Louisiana T he best way Banks Elementary School got families and the community involved this year was to schedule an evening field trip for the entire family. Students accompanied by a parent, family member, or neighbor could attend Family Night Out at Ryan’s Steakhouse from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Siblings were invited too. Students and their families enjoyed meat, fish, vegetables, salads, and lots of desserts. More... Pat LeDuff, Parent Liaison (225) 357-3371 patleduff@netzero.net Type 6 | Elementary Grades | Climate of Partnership |
Fathers MatterWilliam Cullen Bryant School Cleveland, Ohio William Cullen Bryant School partnered with another school to involve fathers and their children in a program offered in the community. Fathers Matter involved monthly woodworking projects for parents and their children at Lowe’s Home Improvement. On the last Tuesday of every month from October to May, fathers and their children met at Lowe’s from 6:00-7:00 pm to build birdhouses, bird feeders, planters, toolboxes, picture frames, spice racks, and toy trucks. Even though families worked together in a non-academic setting, the projects helped students practice their literacy and math skills in real-world applications. More... Laura Gump, Family Liaison (216) 351-6343 Type 1 | Elementary Grades | Climate of Partnership |
Fundraising for the FamilyPennsylvania School for the Deaf Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (PSD) is a center day school for 185 deaf children in grades preschool through high school. The Action Team for Partnership at PSD devised an innovative fundraiser to help families with their specific needs to support students’ education. More... Tina Pakis, Family Involvement Coordinator (215) 951-4765 tpakis@psd.org Type 1 | Elementary Grades | Climate of Partnership |
Intergenerational Folk FairMcKinley Center Stevens Point, Wisconsin McKinley Center planned a Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Intergenerational Folk Fair so that the elementary students could interact with seniors and benefit from their expertise. Retired seniors volunteered to display and/or demonstrate their hobbies and interests. McKinley has always included multiple generations in student learning, and this practice brought young and old together for a day of sharing and learning about skills used today and years ago. The activity linked to school and district goals. More... John P. Blader Sr., Principal (715) 345-5421 Type 6 | Elementary Grades | Climate of Partnership |
Legacy QuiltWestminster Community School #68 Buffalo, New York The Legacy Quilt was a project designed by the junior high students of Westminster Community School #68 as a culminating project for the African/ African-American history lessons the students received in their guidance/counseling classes. The purpose of the project was threefold: first, the students would recognize the significance of the art of quilting; second, the students would have discussions about their family history; and third, there would be a cooperative plan established with the students creating and sewing the classroom quilts. More... Deborah A. Cooper, Action Team Chairperson (716) 838-7456 Type 4 | Middle Grades | Climate of Partnership |
Mercy Pals ProgramAllen Elementary School Canton, Ohio Since 1997, Mercy Medical Center and Allen Elementary School have partnered together to provide community service by hospital employees and by students. The employees of Mercy Medical volunteer their vacation and lunch hours to work with students and families, and the Allen students engage in community service for hospital patients and employees. The program, known as Mercy PALS (Partners with Allen and Lathrop Schools), aims to “make a greater commitment to the Southeast community through the children.” More... Velva C. Taylor-Groce, School Community Worker (330) 453-2782 taylor_v@ccsdistrict.org Type 6 | Elementary Grades | Climate of Partnership |
Multicultural DiscussionArminta Elementary School North Hollywood, California During a School Site Parent Council meeting, a third grade teacher presented an idea for a multicultural discussion, suggesting that teachers need to be more aware and sensitive to the cultures of their students. Greater cultural understanding could enable teachers to better meet the needs of their students, which could result in increased academic achievement. The teacher continued by saying that a multicultural discussion would help teachers learn about the many cultures that comprise Arminta’s diverse community. Such an event also could help build parents’ capacity to communicate effectively with teachers. More... Bettie Wilson, Parent Center Advisor (818) 765-5911 bwiso02@lausd.k12.ca.us Type 3 | Elementary Grades | Climate of Partnership |
PTIA Chat and NibbleBuild Academy (School 91) Buffalo, New York The goal of our PTIA Chat and Nibble program was to welcome parents to the first Parent Teacher Involvement Association (PTIA) event of the Build Academy school year. We wanted to introduce parents to parent leaders and to administrators and teachers in a relaxed atmosphere. We hoped to get our parents involved in their child’s school as early as possible in the school year. We felt that if we could get parents involved in their children’s education, their children would do better in school. More... Marilyn Schillroth, Teacher (716) 897-8110 Type 5 | Elementary Grades | Climate of Partnership |
School/Community Trick or TreatFairmount Elementary School Canton, Ohio The faculty and staff at Fairmont Elementary School wanted a way to promote child safety and to create an enjoyable event for children. School/ Community Trick or Treat, sponsored by the school, the parent group (Fairmont Faculty and Families), and the community, invited children to come to the school the last Sunday afternoon in October to trick or treat. Fairmont was an ideal location for this event because it has the space for over twenty booths for the children to visit; the gym can be transformed into a haunted house; and families can finish the evening in the cafeteria enjoying drinks, cookies, and cupcakes. Trick or Treat provided a safe, fun event for everyone in the community thanks to strong school-community collaboration. More... Beverly Ciricosta, (330) 456-3167 ciricosta_b@ccsdistrict.org Type 3 | Elementary Grades | Climate of Partnership |
Super Bowl Family NightWillard Central Elementary School Springfield, Missouri Survey responses indicated that parents wanted more social activities. The physical education teacher came up with the idea of Super Bowl Family Night to be held the Tuesday before the big game. Activities set up in the gym included making and flipping paper footballs, “Silent Football,” cup stacking, measuring footballs, and guessing how many candy footballs were in a jar. While families rotated through the stations, participants’ names were drawn to win prizes. The families also received tickets to redeem for sodas and nachos. More... Melinda Miller, (417) 863-1001 mmiller@willard.k12.mo.us Type 3 | Elementary Grades | Climate of Partnership |
Thanksgiving Family NightStettin Elementary School Wausau, Wisconsin On November 11, 2002 from 6:00- 7:15 pm, Stettin families attended a special evening of activities directly related to the school’s 2002-2003 goals focused on writing, citizenship, and math. For many years, Stettin hosted a full Thanksgiving meal for families. Due to school growth, the event was no longer feasible, and a new tradition had to take its place. The staff unanimously agreed to the Family Night as a replacement for the Thanksgiving meal. More... Marie Thomas, Family Liaison (715) 843-7872 Type 3 | Elementary Grades | Climate of Partnership |
The Gifts We Share: Teaching Youth to volunteerFamiliesFORWARD Cincinnati, Ohio FamiliesFORWARD, a private nonprofit organization implemented The Gifts We Share program in three Cincinnati public schools to teach children to volunteer in their communities. FamiliesFORWARD established this practice in 1996, after recognizing the need for stronger school, family and community relationships, particularly connecting with senior citizens. More... Julie Theodore, Program Director (513) 721-7044 Type 6 | Organization | Climate of Partnership |
Virtual Teacher AdvisorHoly Family Cyber High High Prairie, Alberta Canada All students enrolled in Holy Family Cyber High work out of their homes located throughout the province of Alberta. In order to facilitate school family partnerships in a seventh through twelfth grade virtual school setting, the Action Team for Partnerships, with support from administration and staff, began a virtual teacher advisor program. The students check-in each morning with their teacher advisor (TA) through e-mail or by phone. The TA is the first point of contact for the family, providing them a person at the school with whom they can have a communicative relationship. More... Paul Corrigan, Assistant Principal (780) 523-5237 corrigan.p@hrcrd.ab.ca Type 2 | High School | Climate of Partnership |